28 Best Things to Do in Cape Cod
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As a born-and-raised Massachusetts local, I know firsthand all the awesome things to do in Cape Cod. I love exploring beach towns in this area, and I’m here to guide you to a quintessential New England experience with beaches, ice cream, boutique shops, museums, and more.
If you’ve never been to Cape Cod – which the locals call “the Cape” – it’s basically like visiting an island without having to take a ferry. All of the Cape has some proximity to beaches, quaint downtown areas, and cute cafes.
This is a good time to let you know that I also have a guide to where to stay in Cape Cod. With that, let’s get into the best things to do in Cape Cod.
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Best Things to Do in Cape Cod
Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches
Beach bum your heart out on the 6 beaches along the Cape Cod National Seashore.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 255-3421 | Website | Entrance: $25 per vehicle May 1st – Sept 30th, or see other pass options
The Cape Cod National Seashore is famed for its beaches. This stretch consists of six beaches along the Cape: Race Point Beach, Nauset Light Beach, Coast Guard Beach, Marconi Beach, Head of the Meadow Beach, and Herring Cove Beach.
If you wake up early enough to enjoy sunrises by the beach, check out Nauset, Coast Guard, and Marconi beaches. If you love ending the day with sunsets by the beach, check out Herring Cove and Race Point beaches.
Nobska Lighthouse
Cape Cod is known for its beaches and lighthouses. The Nobska Lighthouse is a popular one that offers tours.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (774) 763-6453 | Website | Hours: dawn – dusk daily | Tour Hours: 10 am – 1 pm Tue & Thu (June 3rd-October 9th, 2025), Twilight Tours: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm every other Wed (starting June 11th, 2025) | Tour Cost: $10 adults, $8 seniors and veterans, $5 children (must be 45” or taller)
Nobska Lighthouse is one of the prettiest lighthouses on the Cape. If you enjoy seeing lighthouses come into view by the sea, you have to check out this one.
To enrich your visit, I recommend taking one of their ticketed tours. The grounds are open to the public as well, so make sure you take a leisurely stroll and soak in the views.
👉 Tip: Check the Nobska Light Facebook page before you go, as any weather-related closures are posted by 9 am.
Whale-Watching
One of the top locations for whale watching in Massachusetts is in Provincetown.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 566-1426 | Tickets: $78 adults 13+, $48 ages 4-12, $3 ages 0-3 (must be accompanied by an adult) | 👉 Book a Provincetown Whale Watching Cruise on GetYourGuide
Love whale-watching? Then head on over to Provincetown (also known as P-Town by the locals). Just imagine cruising into the ocean to get a glimpse of a whale jumping or swishing its tail. This is popular for both children and adults to learn more about whales and discover more about our vast oceans.
Provincetown’s whale watching cruise is a tour guide-led experience that explores the Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank. You might catch a glimpse of humpback whales, finback whales, minke whales, and endangered right whales.
Heritage Museum and Gardens
To have your “Bridgerton” moment, wander through the Heritage Museum and Gardens.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 888-3300 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (May 10th – October 19th, 2025) | Entrance: $25 adults, $15 youth (3-17), free for children 2 & under
The Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich has something for everyone across its beautiful 100 acres. Whether you’re interested in wandering the gardens, seeing a collection of vintage American automobiles, exploring museum exhibits, or riding the carousel, it’s a great time for all ages.
Lilly’s Cafe is only available for ticketed guests, and the Shop at Heritage is open to the public; both are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.
Chatham Downtown
For a charming seaside downtown, check out Chatham’s Main Street.
📍 Google Maps | Website
When you think of Cape Cod’s charming towns and perfect scenery, you’re probably envisioning something like Chatham Downtown. Chatham Downtown has restaurants and ice cream shops, boutiques, gift shops, fudge spots, bookstores, art galleries, and more. It’s also a short drive to the Chatham Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach.
I recommend checking out the Chatham Bars Inn, one of the most luxurious hotels on the Cape. It’s within walking distance to the Chatham Pier Fish Market, where you can grab some fresh seafood and fries. Along the way, you’ll see some beautiful hydrangeas if you’re visiting when they bloom.
Outdoor Attractions in Cape Cod
Sandwich Boardwalk & Town Neck Beach
To experience walking across a marsh and onto a beach, head to the Sandwich Boardwalk.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Parking: Up to ~$20 or free, depending on the month
To get your daily steps in, check out the Sandwich Boardwalk. It was recently rebuilt and gives you a way to cross over the marsh and onto Town Neck Beach. This is a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.
👉 Pro Tip: It can get quite windy, so you’ll probably want to bring a light jacket or sweater in the summertime.
The Knob
A beautiful spot to enjoy the views, especially of the sunset, over the water.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 8 am – sunset daily | Entrance: Free
The Knob is probably the best sunset viewing spot in Falmouth. To get there, you’ll need to take an easy/intermediate 0.8-mile trail that takes about 15 minutes.
Just beware that parking is very limited, and you should pay attention to signage.
Highfield Hall and Gardens
A mix of blooming gardens and playing with nature, Highfield Hall and Gardens is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 495-1878 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tue – Fri, 10 am – 2 pm Sat & Sun (from May 20th – October 31st, 2025) | Entrance: $12 adults, $8 seniors, free for military/veterans/children under 17
Tucked away in Falmouth, Highfield Hall and Gardens is family-friendly and features a historic 19th-century mansion and gardens to wander.
If you follow the short trails, you’ll even come across an interactive musical garden. Each of the gardens has a unique viewpoint or place to stop and ponder, so even if there are a lot of people around, it can still feel private.
For something a little more lively, check out the event calendar or visit during a specific art exhibition. This location always has something going on.
The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
See the site of the Mayflower Pilgrims’ first landing in 1620.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 487-1310 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $21 adults, $16.75 teens (13-17)/seniors(65+)/veterans, $9.50 children (4-12), free for kids 3 & under
You may have heard of Plymouth Rock, the boulder that marks the disembarkation site of the Mayflower pilgrims, but have you heard of the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum? It’s a fascinating museum full of exhibits detailing Provincetown’s storied history, including information about the Mayflower pilgrims. They even have immersive exhibitions.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb up the 116 steps and 60 ramps up to see the views of Provincetown and potentially even Boston on a clear day.
For another way to have a scenic view, there is an inclined elevator that can take you from downtown Provincetown to the monument. All-day paid parking is available.
Cape Cod Activities & Shopping
Cataumet Light Mini-Golf, Bumper Boats, & More
If you designed a spot with all your summer favorites as a kid, it would probably turn out to be something like Cataumet Light.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 326-8160 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily (from June 14th to September 2nd), 10 am – dusk (from October 15th to mid-December) | Mini-Golf Price: $12 adults, $8 kids
Cataumet Light Mini-Golf is a one-stop village with an 18-hole mini-golf course, bumper boats, batting cage, arcade, speed pitch, kiddie rides, candy, and Richardson’s Ice Cream.
Needless to say, it’s a perfect spot for families with kids, and I’d even approve this for a date spot. Come here after spending a day on a beach or just for a little wholesome fun.
Dune Tours
Take a sand dune tour to explore Cape Cod.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 487-1950 | Website | Hours: Tours are usually 9:45 am, daily | Tickets: $43 adults, $26 kids ages 5-8, $16 ages 4 and under | 👉 Book a Cape Cod National Seashore Dune Tour on Viator
Cape Cod Sand Dune Tours are the perfect way to explore the Cape Cod National Seashore without having your own sand-friendly vehicle. I recommend Art’s Dune Tours – you’ll sit back and feel safe in the hands of an experienced driver and tour guide. They’ll teach you all about the local history on the dunes, as well as the area’s flora and fauna.
This activity is rain or shine, so pack some sunglasses, sunscreen, and a windbreaker.
Mashpee Commons
A leisurely shopping and lifestyle area that has everything from shopping to food and activities.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am – 5 pm Sun, or see individual store hours
The Mashpee Commons has many boutique shops, from ones you’d recognize to local small businesses. There is a mix of clothing, furniture, and toy stores as well as health and beauty studios (and much more).
Grab a java at Cape Cod Coffee, bowl and eat at The Lanes Bowl & Bistro, and celebrate a special occasion with dinner at 53 Chophouse.
In the summer, there is live music and movie screenings, so check out the website for their events calendar.
Cape Cod Mall
Forgot an item for your trip? Grab it at the Cape Cod Mall.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 771-0200 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 8 pm Mon-Thu, 10 am – 9 pm Fri-Sat, 11 am – 6 pm Sun
The Cape Cod Mall is a classic shopping mall. There are plenty of familiar stores if you are looking for something in particular, and it has a variety of food in its food court and the outer storefronts.
There’s also Ten Pin Eatery, which is a great indoor activity for a rainy or chilly day with bowling lanes, a laser tag arena, and a game room.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center and Store (WHOI)
An interactive science center for those interested in ocean discovery.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 289-2663 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free, donations are encouraged
Interested in oceanography in Cape Cod? The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center (WHOI) is where you’ll learn about WHOI at Sea, how the Titanic was discovered, the North Atlantic right whale, the ocean twilight zone, and more.
They even have a REMUS SharkCam – an underwater robot that tracks sharks.
👉 Pro Tip: Street parking in Woods Hole is very limited and metered. Summer visitors are encouraged to park at the shopping malls and free municipal lots in Falmouth, and ride the WHOOSH trolley to Woods Hole village.
Cape Cod Museums
Whydah Pirate Museum
You don’t have to look for the end of the rainbow anymore; find some real pirate artifacts and pirate treasure at this museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 534-9571 | Website | Entrance: $18 adults (16-64), $16 seniors (65+), $14 youth (5-15), free for children ages 4 & under
The Whydah Pirate Museum is an interactive museum that features real pirates and verified pirate treasure. It has thousands of items from the Whydah Galley shipwreck that have been recovered, and researchers are still hunting for more.
This is a good museum for both children and adults with curiosity about pirates, the lives they lived, and the loot they collected.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
Hyannisport, Cape Cod was the “heart and home” of the Kennedys. Learn about their legacy and connections to Cape Cod at this museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 790-3077 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Sat, Closed Sun | Entrance: $14 adults (18-64), $12 seniors 65+ & active military with ID, $8 youth (6-17) & students with ID, free for children 5 & under
The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is the perfect stop for those interested in history and the US President. The museum gives an overview of President Kennedy’s life, presidency, and the continued impact he’s had on the country.
The museum currently features “Presidential Summers: The Kennedys on Cape Cod” and “JFK at 100: Life and Legacy” exhibits and the Three Miles Documentary.
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
To find both indoor and outdoor museum activities for kids, head to the Cape Cod Children’s Museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 539-8788 | Website | Summer Hours: 9 am – 3 pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 9 am – 7 pm Fri, Closed Sun | Entrance: $15 for everyone, ages 1+
Have kids in tow? Then the Cape Cod Children’s Museum should be a stop on your itinerary.
This is the only year-round museum on the Cape for children and families. It’s a big, community-run, and community-focused museum with art, science, physics, building, water, and so much more.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
See and experience butterflies up close if you visit the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History during the summertime.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 896-3867 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 3 pm daily | Entrance: $15 adults (ages 13-64), $12 seniors (65+), $10 children (3-12), free for children 2 & under/active military & immediate family/veterans with ID
For an experience that feels like Animal Crossing in real life, check out the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. It features an aquarium, trails, forest bathing, mud kitchen, bird banding station, horseshoe crab program, and more.
If you visit from June 1-August 31st, you can check out the Butterfly House to see butterflies and caterpillars going through different stages of their life cycle. If available, you can feed the butterflies for an additional fee.
Cape Cod Museum of Art
For a museum experience that feels more like a hidden gem, check out the Cape Cod Museum of Art.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 385-4477 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tue – Sat, 12 pm – 4 pm Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: $15 adults, $12 seniors (62+), $7 ages 13-18/students 19+ with ID, free for members and children 12 & under
The Cape Cod Museum of Art (CCMA) preserves works from generations of Cape Cod artists. For something unique, check out their sculpture garden, which is worth a stroll through. It features 30 sculptures along a scenic trail.
The museum has exhibits that they typically rotate every month or two, along with their permanent collection. They also have events and classes if you want something more hands-on.
Ice Cream in Cape Cod
Buffy’s
Grab the only homemade ice cream in Chatham at Buffy’s, also home to the Chatham Ice Cream Bars.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 348-5271 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily
With an attractive windowfront display of giant floral ice cream cones, Buffy’s Ice Cream is the only homemade ice cream spot to check out in Chatham.
It’s within walking distance of bookstores and other shops, and it’s home to the Chatham Ice Cream Bar – a local delicacy.
Four Seas Ice Cream
Grab a scoop at the oldest ice cream shop in Massachusetts, which serves award-winning homemade ice cream.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 775-1394 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 9 pm Mon-Thu, 4 pm – 10 pm Fri, 12 pm – 10 pm Sat, 12 pm – 9 pm Sun
Ice Cream is a staple item of any Cape beach trip, and Four Seas Ice Cream is an award-winning choice. Named from the four seas surrounding Cape Cod, this is now the oldest ice cream shop in Massachusetts.
It has all the usual flavors plus some local specialties.
Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour
A bright ice cream parlor with outdoor picnic table seating.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 477-5553 | Website | Hours: 2 pm – 9 pm Mon & Thu-Sun
Referring to themselves as the “beary” best ice cream you’ll try on the Cape, check out Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour.
The bright building and outdoor seating environment will probably make you scream for ice cream. It is a local favorite in this part of the Cape. You can also order ice cream to pick up by the pint.
Somerset Creamery
Another local favorite for fresh, homemade ice cream and more.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 563-3430 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 10 pm daily for the season
A very short drive from Cataumet Light, you can check out Somerset Creamery’s homemade ice cream and ice cream creations like frappes and floats.
There are some outdoor picnic tables and benches to enjoy your summer treats at before they melt. I loved their Oreo flavor and will definitely be back for some more.
Cape Cod Food & Drink
Daily Brew Coffee House & Lounge
A cozy local spot for coffee and sandwiches with lounge-style seating.
📍Google Maps | Phone: (508) 564-3550 | Website | Hours: 6:30 am – 3 pm Mon-Sat, 7 am – 3 pm Sun
The Daily Brew is a local coffee shop with plenty of drink options, a smoothie menu, baked goods, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and more. My personal favorite breakfast sandwich is the Cleveland Ledge, which includes a hash brown in a classic SEC croissant.
The Daily Brew is popular for remote workers or for catching up with friends & family.
Snowy Owl Coffee House
A coffee house with barn-like vibes.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (774) 323-0605 | Website | Hours: 6:30 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri, 7:30 am – 5 pm Sat & Sun
Snowy Owl Coffee House is a cozy shop in Brewster, Massachusetts, that sources coffee beans from around the world that are then roasted in Cape Cod.
It is a popular cafe for both locals and visitors, and their menu includes hot and cold matcha lattes, too.
Three Fins Coffee Roasters
Try some small-batch, fair-trade specialty coffee and drinks on the Cape.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 619-3372 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 5 pm daily
Three Fins Coffee Roasters in West Dennis is one of the best coffee shops on the Cape. All their roasts are small-batch and are perfect for specialty coffee lovers.
If you’re not in the mood for coffee, they have added drinks like “cup of sunshine” and “citrus matcha” to their menu. They also have a location in Chatham.
Tree House Brewing – Cape Cod
A brewery right on the beach, order a drink and some pizza, and spend some time by the water.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (413) 523-2367 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 8 pm Sun-Thu, 11 am – 9 pm Fri & Sat
With nice views and vibes right by the beach, Treehouse Brewery offers a unique ocean-side brewery experience. Sit back and grab a drink while waiting for your pizza to be made to order.
There is an indoor and outdoor seating area, along with a back deck that looks out to the water. If you’re looking for a spot to show your friends and family the Cape, this is a good one.
Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery & Brewpub
Spend a chill day at the brewery with games, live music, and more.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (508) 372-6740 | Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 9 pm Thu-Sat, 8:30 am – 8 pm Sun, 9:30 am – 8 pm Mon, 12 pm – 9 pm Tue & Wed
If you’re not taking the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, you can still order a flight from Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery & Brewpub.
Check out the chill brewery vibe, games, live music, and more. For bites, they have soft pretzels, charcuterie platters, and artisan pizza. If you do end up making your way to Martha’s Vineyard, you can check out Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery & Tasting Room in Edgartown.
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Thanks for reading my guide on things to do in Cape Cod! Up next, check out my guide on where to stay in Cape Cod and let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.